DNA methylation as an oncogenic driver in breast cancer: Therapeutic targeting via epigenetic reprogramming of DNA methyltransferases.

The malignant manifestation of breast cancer is driven by complex molecular alterations that extend beyond genetic mutations to include epigenetic dysregulation. Among these, DNA methylation is a critical and reversible epigenetic modification that significantly influences breast cancer initiation, progression, and therapeutic resistance. This process, mediated by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), involves the addition of methyl groups to cytosine residues within CpG dinucleotides, resulting in transcriptional repression of genes.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts as a potential therapeutic target for thyroid cancers.

Thyroid cancer, a prevalent endocrine malignancy, is influenced by its tumor microenvironment (TME), with cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) playing a pivotal role in disease progression. Molecularly, CAFs orchestrate a pro-tumorigenic niche via cytokine secretion and extracellular matrix (ECM) stiffening, underscoring their targetability. Therapeutic strategies, including small molecule inhibitor-based therapies, immune-based therapies, nanoparticle-based approaches, and combination regimens, have been evaluated for their efficacy in disrupting CAF functionality.

Risk factors and leprosy incidence among contacts in Bangladesh: A multilevel analysis.

Background: The Maltalep trial in Bangladesh assessed whether single-dose rifampicin (SDR) given 8-12 weeks after bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination was able to prevent excess leprosy cases due to BCG in contacts of newly diagnosed leprosy patients. After previous publication of the two years follow-up results of the trial, we now review the results after five years. Furthermore, to better understand the long-term protective effects of BCG against leprosy, we conduct post-hoc in-depth secondary statistical analyses based on the prospective interventional (randomized) Maltalep trial and a non-interventional (non-randomized) cohort study that was conducted simultaneously in the same project area.

Major Causes of Perinatal and Paediatric Mortality in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia: Adjustment for Selection Bias in the CHAMPS Network.

Background: Studies of child mortality that employ minimally invasive tissue sampling (MITS) produce highly accurate cause of death data; however, selection bias may render these as non-representative of their underlying populations.

Objectives: Estimate cause-specific mortality fractions and rates for the five most frequent causes-underlying and others in the chain of events leading to death-among stillbirths, neonatal, infant and child deaths-in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, adjusted for any identified selection biases.

Methods: The Child Health and Mortality Prevention Surveillance (CHAMPS) Network collects standardised, population-based, longitudinal data on causes of death among stillbirths and under-five children in 12 catchments in seven countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.

Selective detection of an antibiotic using hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs): insights from DFT mechanistic analysis.

The development of non-toxic, cost-effective and high fluorescent sensing materials has earned significant interest in the last decade. In this work, a simple synthesis technique of mesoporous hydrogen-bonded organic frameworks (HOFs) suitable for the ultrasensitive detection of a commonly used antibiotic, enrofloxacin (ENR), has been reported. The fluorescence of the HOF is completely quenched after the formation of a HOF-Cu complex as a turn off sensor which undergoes a turn-on mechanism in the presence of ENR.